Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and New Glasgow Nova Scotia

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,837 a month against $2,025 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,837
/mo nomad
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,025
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in New Glasgow Nova Scotia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama City and in New Glasgow Nova Scotia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Panama City vs $2,025 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia, rent included.

  • Panama City $1,837
  • New Glasgow Nova Scotia $2,025

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Panama City vs $3,019 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia, rent included.

  • Panama City $2,825
  • New Glasgow Nova Scotia $3,019

A family of three spends $3,812 per month in Panama City vs $4,012 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia, rent included.

  • Panama City $3,812
  • New Glasgow Nova Scotia $4,012

Panama City is about 9% cheaper than New Glasgow Nova Scotia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and New Glasgow Nova Scotia sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, New Glasgow Nova Scotia by 51%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34 PAB 11.34
$18.54 CA$26.42
-38.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.85 PAB 47.85
$56.2 CA$80.1
-14.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.07 PAB 8.07
$10.61 CA$15.13
-23.94%
Cappuccino
$4.02 PAB 4.02
$3.46 CA$4.94
16.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 PAB 1.94
$2.03 CA$2.89
-4.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 PAB 1.62
$1.82 CA$2.59
-10.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 PAB 3.26
$3.65 CA$5.20
-10.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 PAB 3.99
$4.66 CA$6.65
-14.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$1.89 CA$2.69
-3.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 PAB 2.57
$2.73 CA$3.90
-5.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.33 PAB 3.33
$3.43 CA$4.89
-2.92%
Eggs
$2.69 PAB 2.69
$3.54 CA$5.05
-24.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.33 PAB 12.33
$13.39 CA$19.08
-7.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 PAB 6.69
$9.58 CA$13.66
-30.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.40 PAB 10.40
$13.00 CA$18.53
-20.00%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 PAB 4.16
$5.42 CA$7.73
-23.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 PAB 1.84
$1.38 CA$1.96
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$4.59 CA$6.55
-8.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 PAB 4.08
$4.30 CA$6.13
-5.12%
Potato (1kg)
$3.50 PAB 3.50
$2.00 CA$2.85
75.00%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 PAB 4.37
$2.08 CA$2.96
110.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 PAB 2.34
$2.16 CA$3.08
8.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 PAB 1.75
$2.13 CA$3.04
-17.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.06 PAB 6.06
$14.28 CA$20.36
-57.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.72 PAB 11.72
$13.81 CA$19.68
-15.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 PAB 1.37
$3.26 CA$4.65
-57.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 PAB 2.84
$4.03 CA$5.75
-29.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 PAB 0.36
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.96 PAB 20.96
$56.3 CA$80.3
-62.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 PAB 2.52
$2.81 CA$4.01
-10.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 PAB 1.79
$1.31 CA$1.87
36.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.01 PAB 22.01
$20.70 CA$29.50
6.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 PAB 1.25
$1.09 CA$1.55
14.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
$27.7K CA$39.4K
-22.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
$19.3K CA$27.5K
10.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 PAB 131
$123 CA$176
6.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.68 PAB 27.68
$40.94 CA$58.4
-32.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.59 PAB 48.59
$56.8 CA$81.0
-14.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.11 PAB 46.11
$46.22 CA$65.9
-0.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.01 PAB 35.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.73 PAB 8.73
$12.73 CA$18.14
-31.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 PAB 551
$377 CA$537
46.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,560 PAB 9,560
$13.1K CA$18.7K
-26.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6 PAB 67.6
$59.6 CA$85.0
13.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.03 PAB 48.03
$34.96 CA$49.83
37.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 PAB 94.9
$103 CA$146
-7.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 PAB 113
$116 CA$165
-2.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 PAB 1,238
$1,066 CA$1,519
16.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$873 PAB 873
$872 CA$1,243
0.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,197 PAB 2,197
$1,539 CA$2,194
42.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,538 PAB 1,538
$1,517 CA$2,162
1.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,116 PAB 3,116
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,725 PAB 1,725
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$934 PAB 934
$2,473 CA$3,525
-62.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
4.6
38.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for New Glasgow Nova Scotia: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City
$873
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
$872 0.1% $1.2
Groceries & Markets
Panama City
$324
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
$373 15% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
$207
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
$221 6.6% $14
Eating Out
Panama City
$202
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
$265 31.2% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
$146
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
$141 3.2% $4.7
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
$64
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
$72 12.8% $8.1
Getting Around
Panama City
$34
New Glasgow Nova Scotia
$66 * 93.9% $32

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,238 in Panama City versus $1,066 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 165% higher in New Glasgow Nova Scotia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $56.0 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $373 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama City
🇨🇦 New Glasgow Nova Scotia
🕒 Local time
07:49 7:49 AM
09:49 9:49 AM
2 h ahead of Panama City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,086,990 Capital
18,665
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City New Glasgow Nova Scotia 4,380 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City
  • New Glasgow Nova Scotia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Panama City vs New Glasgow Nova Scotia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Panama City or New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
New Glasgow Nova Scotia costs about 10% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Panama City and in New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Panama City and $3,038 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Panama City or New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Panama City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Panama City or in New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
Groceries cost about 15% more in New Glasgow Nova Scotia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Panama City and in New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $56.0 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Panama City or in New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in New Glasgow Nova Scotia at $2,025. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Glasgow Nova Scotia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Panama City or New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Panama City costs $1,837 versus $2,025 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Panama City compared to New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Panama City or to New Glasgow Nova Scotia?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New Glasgow Nova Scotia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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